Lifting device for beds



Dec. 6, 1949 -1 HOLL|s 2 490 130 LIFTING DEVICE FOR BEDS Filed May 1, 1945 1 iii INVENTOR. Fp dE ozzap.

Hrs Arman/5y.

Patented Dec. 6, 1949 stares PATENT o-F-Fics LIFTING DEVICE "BEDS -.-'ErefllE.:Hollis, Pittsburgh,;Pa.

Application May 1, 1945;5e'1iialN03591j307 3 Claims. .1

This invention relates to new and useful im=- provements ,imlifting aids .for bedridden hospital patients andthelike, and'itis amongthe objects thereof Y-to provide a grip support mountedori'ia per-table stand .and which .is out or the patients may whenz-not inuse. 1

ll: is a iurther-obiect-ot-the invention to provide a portable'gripping support that-is always within the reach of the patient to be movable in the proper position in register with the patient, in which the gripping member shall be self-interlocking with the support when gripped by the patient.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawin constituting a part hereof, in which like reference characters desi nate like parts, and in which Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a movable grip on a portable support embodying the principles of this invention; and

Fig. 2 an enlarged detail of a portion of the grip and clamping member for securely locking the same in any position on a support.

In the drawing the numeral I designates a pair of standards supported on feet 2 which are spaced to distribute the load on the support on a fourpoint contact with the floor to guard against tilting or other movements. The standards I are provided with T-connections 3 for supporting a tube 4 which is secured in position by set screws 5. A grip having a handle member '6 on a yoke 1 is slidably mounted on the tube 4 by a U-shaped bracket 8. As shown in the large View of Fig. 2

the yoke members 1 are fastened to a wedge block 9 that is pivotally mounted on a sleeve Ill which constitutes a pivot bearing and which is journaled on saddle 8. A bolt or screw H passin through the pivot bearing l secures the block 9 in saddle 8. The handle parts 1 are secured to block 9 by a bolt passing through opening I2. The load is always on the sleeve in and the blot I2 is free to turn in the bore of the sleeve 10. The block 9 is provided with a curved concave surface I 3, the curvature of which is the same radius as the tube 4 so as to effect intimate surface contact with the tube when in engagement therewith, and to provide a clearance for sliding the block 9 longitudinally of the tube 4 when the handle 6 is titled. The block 9 is preferably made of aluminum and a pair of aluminum runners M are secured in the U-shaped bracket 8 for engaging the upper surface of the tube 4. The use of the aluminum block and runners eliminates wear from sliding contact and assures a firm gripping action when the clamp block '9 -is in engagement with the tube coil-'springle to be itionshown iri the dotted lines, which positi is assumed when-the handle 6 is released; The entire ha'ndle unit is movable on'the' "tube any means er arena and pully arrangement which consists of -brackets F5 and H having shire wheels i'B a'n'd T9 mounted on adjustable brackets therein. The rope 20 passing over the pulleys is secured at 2| and 22 to the U-shaped bracket 8, a guide 23 being provided to prevent tangling of the rope. By means of the cord 20 the patient, who may be in a given position in a bed, can, by pullin the cord, move the gripping unit in overhead alignment where he can reach the grip or handle 6 and pull it down. When in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 1, the weight of the patients body or the pulling force causes the cam block 9 to intimately engage the tube A and lock the gripping unit in position thereon. The patient may then readily adjust his position in the bed or pull himself to an upright position without any danger of the grip slipping out of position or without danger of tilting or moving the grip support.

The supporting structure may be used to facilitate the handling of hospital equipment such as mounting of fluid containers 24 on slidable brackets 25 or the mounting of a weight support 26 which by set screws 21 is adjustable to any desired vertical position relative to the support.

It is evident from the foregoing description of the invention that lifting grips for hospital beds made in accordance therewith assure safe movement of the patient and are available for use at all times without aid, and when not in use such a grip does not interfere with the normal use of a hospital bed.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the principles herein set -forth.

I claim:

1. In a lifting device for beds, a support comprising an overhead track, a bracket mounted for sliding movement on said track, a bearing sleeve mounted for pivotal movement in said bracket, a cam block journaled on said bearing sleeve, said bearing sleeve being secured to the bracket by a bolt extending through the walls of the bracket, a handle member secured to the cam block, said cam block having a cam surface which in the lowered position of the handle engages the track to lock the bracket against movement on the track, and said cam block having a track engaging surface complementary in shape with the surface of the track with which it contacts in its locking position.

2. In a lifting device for beds, a support comprising a horizontally disposed overhead track, a U-shaped bracket mounted for sliding-movement on said track with the base of the U resting on the track, a bearing sleeve extending through the walls of the U-shaped bracket for pivotal movement therein, a bolt extending through the bearing sleeve for holding the sleeve in the bracket, a cam block pivotally mounted on the bearing sleeve, and a handle or grip fastened to the cam block, the cam block having a cam surface for engaging the underside of the overhead track when the handle is in the down position, such that the weight on the handle increasingly locks the cam block and track against movement, said cam surface being of a contour complementary to the under surface of the track which it engages.

3. In a lifting device for beds, a support comprising a horizontally disposed overhead'track, a U-shaped bracket mounted for sliding movement on said track with the base of the U resting on the track, a bearing sleeve extending 4 through the walls of the U-shaped bracket for pivotal movement therein, a bolt extending through the bearing sleeve for holding the sleeve in the bracket, a cam block pivotally mounted on the bearing sleeve, a handle or grip fastened to the cam block, the cam block having a cam surface for engaging the underside of the overhead track when the handle is in the down position, such that the weight on the handle increasingly locks the cam block and track against movement, said cam surface being of a contour complementary to the under surface of the track which it engages, and means normally biasing said handle in the direction to effect disengagement of the cam surface with the track when not in use.

FRED E. HOLLIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 775,520 Crigler -1 Nov. 22, 1904 798,114 Rosenthal Aug. 29, 1905 1,627,733 Fritts May 10, 1927 1,840,170 Neils Jan. 5, 1932 

